How does one man (such as Adolf Hitler) captivate an entire nation? Why did so few people rise up against him? In general, what is it about humanity that so often produces such intolerance?
Was this a "just war?" Is there really such a thing?
What was life like for people on the front lines of the war in Europe? What about for people on the home front in America? How are their experiences similar/different?
What were the experiences of soldiers in WWII? Did they feel they were fighting for a worthy cause?
Goals
Students will have a knowledge of the major events and people of WWII.
Students will understand the enormous impact of this war, and what it means for the world today.
Students will be able to see history through the eyes of those who lived it.
General Unit Objectives
Students will know the general chronology of WWII events, and the roles of major leaders.
Students will consider WWII through various perspectives of people living at the time.
Students will analyze the impact of WWII on today's society, especially in ways of thinking.
Students will analyze primary sources from WWII and use these sources to understand events, perceptions, and the culture of the time.
Students will perform a variety of interdisciplinary activities that allow them to express creativity.
Common Core/Essential Standard Objectives
Literature: Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
Literature: Analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of different characters or narrators in a text.
Literature: Compare and contrast a fictional portrayal of a time, place, or character and a historical account of the same period as a means of understanding how authors of fiction use or alter history.
Reading: Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
Reading: Analyze the interactions between individuals, events, and ideas in a text (e.g., how ideas influence individuals or events, or how individuals influence ideas or events).
Reading: Compare and contrast a text to an audio, video, or multimedia version of the text, analyzing each medium’s portrayal of the subject (e.g., how the delivery of a speech affects the impact of the words).
Reading: Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author distinguishes his or her position from that of others.
Reading: Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient to support the claims.
Writing: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
7.H.1.2 Summarize the literal meaning of historical documents in order to establish context.
7.H.1.3 Use primary and secondary sources to interpret various historical perspectives.
7.H.2.1 Analyze the effects of social, economic, military and political conflict among nations, regions, and groups (e.g. war, genocide, imperialism and colonization).
7.C & G.1.1 Summarize the ideas that have shaped political thought in various societies and regions (e.g. Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution, democracy, communism and socialism).
7.C.1.1 Explain how culture unites and divides modern societies and regions (e.g. enslavement of various peoples, caste system, religious conflict and Social Darwinism).
Goals
General Unit Objectives
Common Core/Essential Standard Objectives
List of Possible Materials & Supplementary Texts
List of Possible Learning Activities